Tacurong City to host Philippine Bird Festival

TACURONG CITY, Philippines — The city government here is preparing for this year’s 12th Philippine Bird Festival, come May 10 to 12, 2018.

The festival is aimed at increasing the awareness of the people in conserving and preserving the winged-creatures.

Tacurong is the only city in the region which maintains a bird sanctuary, witih more than 20,000 of species of “Egrets” and “Herons”, which can be found in Baras Bird Sanctuary is the village of Baras of this city, which is just 15 minutes drive from the city proper.

Rey Malana, founder and project manager of the Baras Bird Sanctuary, said the sanctuary have already gained international prominence, making it as the “No. 2 in the list of the largest resting and breeding of Herons and Egrets bird species” in the world.

Malana said the sanctuary is the home of an estimated 20,000 Herons and Egrets birds.

The sancuary sits in the 2.5 hectares of the 5-hectare farm owned by the Malana family.

Allan Freno, information officer of the city government of Tacurong, said the bird festival, will be spearheaded by the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines (WBCP).

Freno said bidded for the hosting the three-day affair after successfully holding its third local bird festival in May 12-13 last year.

The City Tourism Office recorded 1,520 guests in last year’s hosting.

Mayor Lina Montilla viewed the hosting as a “welcome challenge”.

Montilla said the city has enough facilities and hotels to house the guests and tourists.

They are anticipating the influx of local and foreign bird enthusiasts for the festival.

Willem Van de Ven of the Wild Bird Club of the Philippines, according to Freno, appreciated the interest of the Central Mindanao region in hosting this year’s bird festival.

In August 2000, the Sannguniang Panglungsod (SP) of Tacurong City approved an ordinance, declaring the Baras Bird Sanctuary as protected and conservation area for both domestic and international species of birds.

Malana thanked the Department of Tourism and the city government, and Mayor Montilla, for supporting the bird sanctuary.

The said bird sanctuary is maintained by four wildlife warden, all paid by the city government of Tacurong. -Ramil H. Bajo/Newsline.ph